Museum Campus: Chicago Virtual Cache
Hidden : 9/10/2017
Difficulty:
1 out of 5
Terrain:
2 out of 5

Size: Size: virtual (virtual)

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Geocache Description:




Welcome to Chicago’s Museum Campus
Stretching along the shores of Lake Michigan, Museum Campus is one of Chicago’s most iconic gathering spots. Here, science, history, and discovery all share the same breathtaking backdrop of city skyline and open water. Within this 57-acre park you’ll find three of the city’s crown jewels—the Adler Planetarium, the Shedd Aquarium, and the Field Museum of Natural History—each with its own world to explore.

But the campus is more than just museums. It’s where locals jog along lakeside paths at sunrise, where families picnic on summer afternoons, and where visitors pause to take in Chicago’s sweeping views. Soldier Field rises just to the west, McCormick Place sits nearby, and the grounds themselves are dotted with gardens, fountains, and public art that invite you to slow down and take it all in.

Our family picked this spot for a virtual reward because it’s a place we return to again and again. Sometimes it’s following me running the marathon, sometimes for a new exhibit, and sometimes just to walk the paths and grab lunch by the water. In fact, today I’m drafting this is while sitting inside the Shedd Aquarium café, overlooking the lake. For us, this campus is Chicago at its best—a mix of learning, culture, and everyday life all in one place.

Optional Waypoints


Adler Planetarium

Perched at the very tip of Northerly Island, the Adler Planetarium has been sparking curiosity about the universe since 1930. Founded by Chicago businessman Max Adler, it proudly holds the title of America’s first planetarium. Step inside and you’ll find yourself immersed in the wonders of astronomy and astrophysics—from interactive exhibits that let you explore the night sky, to breathtaking shows that transport you across the cosmos.

The location couldn’t be more fitting. With Lake Michigan stretching out behind it and the Chicago skyline glowing to the west, the Adler is as much a place to gaze outward at the stars as it is to look back at the city itself.


Field Museum of Natural History

Just steps from the lakefront, the Field Museum invites you to travel through time and across continents without ever leaving Chicago. It’s one of the largest natural history museums in the world, home to more than 40 million artifacts and specimens. From towering dinosaurs to glittering gemstones, from ancient Egyptian tombs to exhibits highlighting today’s conservation efforts, the Field offers something to spark the imagination of every explorer.

This is also where you’ll meet “SUE,” the largest and most complete Tyrannosaurus rex ever discovered, along with “Máximo,” a life-sized titanosaur that greets guests the moment they enter Stanley Field Hall. Beyond the exhibits, the museum continues to be a leader in global research, preserving the past while helping us better understand the future.



Shedd Aquarium

Since 1930, the Shedd Aquarium has been bringing the wonders of the water to the heart of Chicago. Home to more than 32,000 animals swimming in over 5 million gallons of water, it was once the largest indoor aquarium in the world—and the first inland aquarium to house a permanent collection of saltwater fish.

Inside, you’ll journey from Caribbean coral reefs to Amazon riverbanks, from the icy waters of the Pacific Northwest to the open ocean. Penguins waddle, dolphins leap, and colorful schools of fish swirl just beyond the glass. The Shedd is more than an aquarium—it’s a window into the incredible diversity of life beneath the surface.

Logging Requirements


To earn your smiley, please complete one of the following tasks. (All visits must take place after the cache publication date. Logs that do not meet the requirements will be deleted.)

While not required, we’d love if you also shared a note about your day at Museum Campus—or something interesting you learned during your visit!

Option 1: Photo Proof • Take a picture of yourself with your GPS/phone (or just giving a thumbs up) at one of the three landmarks listed above. • The landmark must be clearly visible in the background. • Your face does not need to be in the photo. • No need to message me if you choose this option—just include the photo with your log.

Option 2: Answer Questions • Go to the posted coordinates, where you’ll find ten information boards and one of the best skyline views in Chicago. • Message me the answers to the following two questions (do not post them in your log): 1. What is the name of the building labeled as #5? 2. How many years did Ward battle to maintain unobstructed views of Lake Michigan?

Note: As of September 2025, the boards are weathered. The building visuals are gone, but the numbered list and building names remain.

Virtual Reward - 2017/2018 This Virtual Cache is part of a limited release of Virtuals created between August 24, 2017 and August 24, 2018. Only 4,000 cache owners were given the opportunity to hide a Virtual Cache. Learn more about Virtual Rewards on the Geocaching Blog.

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Vs lbh rawbl gur ybpngvba.. jr nccerpvngr gur pbafvqrengvba bs n Snibevgr Cbvag!

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)


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